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| Capitol Critters | |
|---|---|
| Format | Animated series |
| Created by | Nat Mauldin Steven Bochco Michael Wagner |
| Starring | Neil Patrick Harris Charlie Adler Jennifer Darling Patti Deutsch Bobcat Goldthwait Dorian Harewood Frank Welker |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| No. of episodes | 13 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 30 minutes per episode |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | ABC |
| Original run | January 31, 1992 – March 14, 1992 |
Capitol Critters is an animated television series about the lives of mice, rats, and roaches who reside in the basement and walls of the White House in Washington, D.C. The series was produced by Steven Bochco and Hanna-Barbera Productions in association with 20th Century Fox Television for the ABC Television Network, which aired seven out of the show's 13 episodes from January 31, 1992 to March 14, 1992. Cartoon Network began airing all 13 episodes in 1995.
Contents |
Plot
The series' first episode began on a Nebraska farm, which was also home to a family of mice, including a young mouse named Max. While on a trip outside to gather some corn, exterminators arrived to eliminate the mice. Once Max noticed the exterminators from a distance, he quickly returned to the basement only to witness the death of his entire family. Before Max's mother was killed after a failed rescue attempt, she told him to leave for Washington, D.C., where his cousin Berkeley could be found. Upon his arrival in the nation's capital Max encountered a rat named Jammett who resided along with Berkeley in the White House basement. After meeting Berkeley, Max met a former lab rat named Muggle and Jammett's mother Trixie, who allowed him to share her son's room.
A new set of cats (presidential and vice presidential) were just beginning to be a nuisance for the mice before Max's arrival. Also, the familiar sight of rat poison was apart of Max's life in his new home. When death appeared to be his fate, a cockroach named Moze came to his aid and brought him outside the White House basement. When Max returned to the basement, the sight of Muggle unconscious brought back terrible memories that caused him to run outside toward a presidential helicopter preparing to take off. Jammett managed to join Max on the helicopter before returning to the White House, giving the two plenty of time to know each other better.
Episodes
- Max Goes to Washington
- Of Thee I Sting
- The Rat To Bear Arms
- Hat & Mouse
- A Little Romance
- Opie's Choice
- An Embarrassment of Roaches
- Into the Woods
- Gimme Shelter
- The KiloWatts Riots
- The Bug House
- The Lady Doth Protest to Munch
- If Lovin' You Is Wrong, I Don't Wanna Be Rat
Principal Cast
- Neil Patrick Harris - Max
- Charlie Adler - Jammett
- Jennifer Darling - Berkeley
- Patti Deutsch - Trixie
- Dorian Harewood - Moze
- Bobcat Goldthwait - Muggle
- Frank Welker - Presidential Cats
Additional Voices
- Pamela Adlon -
- Lewis Arquette -
- Michael Bell -
- Gregg Berger -
- Earl Boen -
- Sorrell Booke -
- Hamilton Camp -
- Brian Cummings -
- Jim Cummings -
- Tim Curry -
- Jeff Doucette -
- Nancy Dussault -
- Paul Eiding -
- Richard Erdman -
- Takayo Fischer -
- Linda Gary -
- Joan Gerber -
- Ed Gilbert -
- Dan Gilvezan -
- Danny Goldman -
- Arlene Golonka -
- Whitby Hertford -
- Gordon Hunt -
- Helen Hunt -
- Robert Ito -
- David Jolliffe -
- Janice Kawaye -
- Steve Landesberg -
- Jarrett Lennon -
- Anndi McAfee -
- Scott Menville -
- Brian Stokes Mitchell -
- Rob Paulsen -
- Robert Picardo -
- Peter Renaday -
- Robert Ridgely -
- Neil Ross -
- Beverly Sanders -
- Jeffrey Tambor -
- Mark Taylor -
- Russi Taylor -
- Marcelo Tubert -
- Chick Venerra -
- B.J. Ward -
- Lee Wilkof -
- Eugene Williams -
- William Woodson -
- Patric Zimmerman -
Reception
Capitol Critters was cancelled after one month.[1] In its short run, the series dealt with such topics as politics, racial segregation, drug addiction, and mortality.[2] In his review of the series, Variety critic Brian Lowry wrote that "at its best the show seems to ape the work of film director Ralph Bakshi by using an animated setting to explore adult themes", and that "the bland central character and cartoonish elements [...] will likely be off-putting to many adults, who won't find the political satire biting enough to merit their continued attention. Similarly, kids probably won't be as smitten with the cartoon aspects or look".[2]
References
- ^ Stabile, Carol A.; Harrison, Mark, eds (2003). "The second prime time animation boom". Prime Time Animation: Television Animation and American Culture. Routledge. p. 79. ISBN 0415283264.
- ^ a b Lowry, Brian (1994) "Capitol Critters" Variety Television Reviews 1991-92Taylor & FrancisISBN 0824037960
External links
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